Flashcards
Salutary Neglect
The British government allowing the colonies in America to rule themselves
Popular Sovereignty
Letting the people decide → the people having governmental power
Proclamation of 1763
Declaration by King George III not allowing colonists to move west past the Appalachian Mountains
Common Sense
Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine encouraging colonists to separate from British rule
Olive Branch Petition
American colonists asking/pleading to stop fighting with the British and to try and find a solution
Alien and Sedition Acts
These laws raised the residency requirements for citizenship from 5 to 14 years, authorized the president to deport “aliens,” and permitted their arrest, imprisonment, and deportation during wartime.
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions
The resolutions argued that the federal government had no authority to exercise power not specifically delegated to it in the Constitution.
Treaty of Ghent (1814)
ended war of 1812
George Washington
Set precedents that are still followed today, such as a Presidential Cabinet and two terms.
John Adams
Patriot and 2nd President, but the Alien and Sedition Acts cost him a second term
Thomas Jefferson
First Secretary of State, made the Louisiana Purchase despite controversy, and infuriated the Northern shipping companies with the Embargo Act.
James Madison
Father of the Constitution, President during the War of 1812, involved in writing the Federalist Papers
Alexander Hamilton
First Secretary of the Treasury responsible for the creation of the 1st National Bank
Andrew Jackson
General at the Battle of New Orleans, US President in 1828. Involved in dissolving US Bank and forcibly removing Native Americans from their lands
French-Indian War
War fought in which Britain and its colonies defeated France and Native American allies, gaining more land
British & Colonists relations after F-I War
Arrogant and unfair because of taxes
Stamp Act
Law passed by Parliament that required colonists taxes on ALL printed materials (newspapers, playing cards, etc.)
Why did colonists protest the Stamp Act?
Did not want to pay high taxes on paper goods
Quartering Act
the Quartering Acts were two or more Acts of British Parliament requiring local governments of Britain’s North American colonies to provide the British soldiers with housing and food.
Intolerable Acts
act passed to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party; it shut down Boston Harbor and took away colonial voting participation for governor and made the governorship a position appointed by the British Crown
Common Sense & Declaration of Independence, and impact on popular sovereignty
Both supported/encouraged the colonists and people of America to support the idea of popular sovereignty (people having a large say in gov’t)
American and Native American relations during Revolutionary War
Native Americans and Americans did not get along, the Native Americans were helping the British during the war
How did colonists feel about the Revolution?
They were motivated to win their independence and prove their strength as its own country
Battle of Saratoga
a decisive victory for the Continental Army and a crucial turning point in the Revolutionary War
What came out of this battle?
American victory in the AR, treaty signed leading to American independence
Why the Colonists won the war
knew the territory, motivated fighting for freedom, wore out British and their will to fight
Shays’ Rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion was an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts in response to a debt crisis among the citizenry and in opposition to the state government’s increased efforts to collect taxes both on individuals and their trades. (Showed weakness of articles of confederation
Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses of Articles
Federal gov’t was weak and had no power. No right to tax people, or the power to create a bank. Federal gov’t could not control trade/create taxes on trade. No national army/protection.
Separation of Powers
an act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies.
Checks and Balances
System that made sure each branch of gov’t could check one another, so that one branch would not gain more power than the other
Electoral College
Group of people chosen from each state to indirectly elect the president and vice president → amount of votes vary on the size of the state
What was criticism of it?
You can win the popular vote and lose the election
Role of Presidents’ Cabinet
Heads of executive departments who meet as a group to advise President
Virginia Plan
Madison’s proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population
New Jersey Plan
William Paterson’s proposal for a unicameral legislature with each state having one vote
Great Compromise
Compromise between VA and NJ Plans for a bicameral legislature; each state would have equal representation in Senate and varied representation in the House of Representatives based on the state’s population
Three-Fifths Compromise
Each slave in a state would be counted as 3/5 of a person for the purposes of legislative representation
The new Constitution
First Constitution failed, so the new constitution was changed to give the national gov’t more power. Also included the bill of rights to ensure people didn’t lose their rights
What did Americans fear about the Constitution?
People feared national gov’t would have too much power and they would lose their rights
The Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers is a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the collective pseudonym “Publius” to promote the ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
Bill of Rights
First ten amendments of the Constitution
Support for the Bill of Rights
1st Ten Amendments 🡪 gave the people protective rights to ensure their personal freedom. Gave people basic rights.
1st Amendment
Freedom of Speech, press, assembly, religion
2nd Amendment
The right to bear arms
3rd Amendment
No soldier shall be quartered in someone’s home
4th Amendment
no unreasonable search and seizure
5th Amendment
no one shall be “deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.”
6th Amendment
right to a speedy and public trial with an impartial jury
7th Amendment
protects the right to a trial by jury in civil court cases.
8th Amendment
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
9th Amendment
all the rights not listed in the Constitution belong to the people, not the government
10th Amendment
the Federal Government only has those powers delegated in the Constitution
Whiskey Rebellion
1794 uprising in western Pennsylvania that opposed the federal tax on whiskey
Washington’s response to Whiskey Rebellion
Sends a lot of troops to Pennsylvania to put down any chance of “rebellion.” Shows new strength of the government.
National Bank
Jackson hated national banks, thought it only favored the wealthy. founded by Hamilton
George Washington’s Farewell Address (Warnings)
Avoid political parties! Stay out of European affairs – do not get dragged into war
Election of 1796- Winner
Jefferson loses to Adams, but shows a huge growth in a new political party (Jeffersonian Republicans). Starts to show a divide in the country.
Election of 1800- Winner
BIG win for Jefferson (3rd) because a new political party has won and taken over office 🡪 no longer federalist party.
Impact of these Elections
Showed the growing divide between the North and South. First time the Federalists were not in office, and showed how the people had changing views of gov’t
Judicial Review
The ability of the Supreme Court to declare an act by the Executive Branch unconstitutional
Louisiana Purchase
1803 purchase from France by the US of the LA Territory (between the Mississippi River & the Rocky Mountains)
Embargo Act
Ban of all goods/services with Britain. No more trade with Britain. Made to put pressure on the British, and force them to cooperate with the U.S.
How did Embargo Act affect Jefferson’s 2nd term?
The Embargo Act is a HUGE failure. People lose jobs, the economy suffers. Britain finds new markets to trade with. Does not look good for Jefferson who made this Embargo Act.
What caused the War of 1812?
The continued impressment of American Sailors by the British Navy
President during War of 1812
James Madison
What happened to Washington DC during the War of 1812?
Burned to the Ground
Star Spangled Banner
written by Francis Scott Key as watched Fort McHenry being bombed: led to writing of National Anthem
Battle of New Orleans
Decisive American victory over British, led to Andrew Jackson being a hero; this battle was fought after the signing of Treaty of Ghent
Outcome of War of 1812
US keeps its independence, no territorial changes.
Andrew Jackson as “Common Man”
Loved by the common people, distrusted wealthy elites
Spoils System
system in which you reward political supporters jobs in government as a reward
Jackson’s Bank War
did not trust US Bank, believed that in only benefited wealthy elites, dissolved the US Bank
Worcester vs. Georgia
ruled that because the Cherokee Nation was a separate political entity that could not be regulated by the state, Georgia’s license law was unconstitutional and Worcester’s conviction should be overturned.
Indian Removal Act
Forcibly removed Cherokee and other Indigenous tribes off their ancestral lands and forced them to live in modern day Oklahoma; ruled unconstitutional however Jackson went ahead of with the act
Trail of Tears
The forced march of Cherokee Native Americans from their ancestral lands to modern day Oklahoma; numerous Natives died on the trip from starvation, disease, and harsh conditions
